Revelation 18

Revelation 18:1

After what things? After the destruction of Babylon (Rev_17:15). What is left of the one-world religious system will join with Antichrist and the ten-nation confederation of Europe. Playing right into his hands, the religious system will initially work with Antichrist and the European Unionthe revived Roman Empire. The religious system based in Rome will appear to control the European coalition of the revived Roman Empirebut only for a certain season, for these kings will ultimately turn against Rome and, after using her to gain control of the reigns of world power, will trash her. That’s why Babylon is called a harlot in chapter 17. She’s used, abused, and thrown away. Why do we see Babylon again in chapter 18 after seeing her destroyed in chapter 17? Because chapter 17 deals with the false religious system Babylon represents, while chapter 18 deals with the literal city of Babylon. Chapter 17 deals with religious Babylon. Chapter 18 deals with political and economic Babylon. This explains the seeming discrepancy between Rev_17:16, which reads: “…and the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore…” and Rev_18:9, which reads: “…and the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her…” You see, although the kings of the earth hate the religious system, they love and embrace the economic system of Babylon. As also seen in Jeremiah 51, the utter destruction of Babylon is reiterated in the Book of Isaiah… And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged .Isa_13:19-22 Although destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 B.C., there have always been small communities of inhabitants in Babylon. Isaiah, however, prophesied that not even shepherds and their flocks would hang out there, that it would simply be a place for weird birds and wild animals. Thus, Isaiah’s prophecy concerns a future destruction, which will come to further light as Revelation 18 unfolds…

Revelation 18:3

Here we see interaction and commercial intercourse with Babylon. And because every nation has interaction with Babylon, every nation is affected by Babylon. All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Revelation 18:4

The voice from heaven speaks to those who become believers during the Tribulation. The church is already in heaven, but the Lord will still save soulsso many that in the Tribulation there will be a large number of people who finally understand the gospel message and are converted to Christ. To them, this clarion call comes from heaven, saying, “Stay away from Babylon.”

Revelation 18:5

The goal of the builders of the Tower of Babylon’s birthplace was to “build a tower whose top may reach unto heaven” (Gen_11:4). In reality, the only thing that reached to heaven was their iniquity.

Revelation 18:6

In other words, Babylon is about to receive twice the wrath and destruction ever perpetrated by her.

Revelation 18:7

She who has had interaction with all nations and with whom all nations have been involved in fornication now says, “I’m a queen, not a widow. I’m neither impoverished nor in need of anything.” This doesn’t mean Babylon will not experience sorrowbut that she refuses to see it. Consumed with a “let them eat cake” mentality, Babylon is so absorbed in her own delicacies, her own materialism, her own economy that she does not see the sorrow of people even within her own boundaries.

Revelation 18:8

“You claim to be a queen and you see no sorrow. But I look at you differently,” declares God. “You’re going to be judged thoroughly.”

Revelation 18:9

Not wanting to be tormented with the same torment with which Babylon is tormented, the kings of the earth will lament and mournbut “standing afar off"at a safe distance. The utter destruction of a city like Babylon taking place in one hour would most likely be the result of a nuclear exchangethe fallout of which would help explain why the kings of the earth “stand afar off.”

Revelation 18:11

No one is saying, “Oh, those poor people in Babylon.” No, they’re saying, “Oh no, the world economy is wiped out.” And as the results of the destruction of Babylon are described, it feels as if we’re on a floor-by-floor tour of a huge department store like Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale’s… First floor: Jewelry Second Floor: Clothing Third Floor: Home Furnishings Fourth Floor: Cosmetics Fifth Floor: Food Court Sixth Floor: Automotive The word “slaves” literally meaning “bodies,” this is the basementthe Adult Bookstore. Please note not one of the aforementioned deals with life’s necessities. They’re all luxuries. Babylon specializes in materialism gone mad.

Revelation 18:14

Babylon is the city that drives world economy, so everyone who exported from or imported to her is saying, “Oh no! How will we buy and sell now?” The peoples’ response to the destruction of Babylon is to weep and wail. But heaven’s response is to rejoice. It’s All Going to Burn A Topical Study of Rev_18:17 I am about to give you, free of charge, the best investment advice you will ever receive. Look with me at Luke 12… And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.Luk_12:13 Jewish tradition contained a brilliant way of dividing an inheritance. If there were two brothers, it was the responsibility of the eldest to divide the inheritance in two, and the privilege of the youngest to have first choice. This way everything was fair. In this case, however, something went wrong, and the inheritance was not correctly divided. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?Luk_12:14 “That’s not what I’m about,” answered Jesus, knowing that the real problem wasn’t financial, technical, or legal. It was spiritual. The issue was not a matter of money. The issue was a matter of the heart because both brothers were covetous. “I have heard confessions of every sin imaginable,” wrote Francis of Assisi, “but I have never heard a man confess the sin of covetousness.” Scripture, however, records such a confession by one who was otherwise “blameless concerning the law.” In Romans 7, the apostle Paul says the sin that damned him was covetousness. What is covetousness? Wanting more of that of which you already have enough. Whether with regard to power or pleasure, clothes or cars, houses or hobbies, covetousness is any attitude that says, “Just a little more, and I’ll be happy.” Knowing this, Jesus said, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.Luk_12:15 It has been rightly said that small men seek to get a little more, while great men seek to be a little more. “I can’t promise you a yacht or a big house or a Rolex or a Rolls Royce as Johnny Green could,” said the young man to his girlfriend. “But I can promise you all my love.” “I love you too,” answered his girlfriend, “but tell me more about Johnny Green…” Life is not about possessions; so Jesus continued on with a parable to drive this point home… The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.Luk_12:16-21 A story was told of Dietrich Reinhold, a man known throughout his community to be very wealthy. One night he went to sleep in his huge mansion, only to wake up a couple hours later in a cold sweat, frightened by a dream in which an angel appeared to him, saying, “At midnight, the richest man in the valley shall die.” That’s me, thought Reinhold, and he sent a servant to quickly fetch the doctor. The doctor came hastily, listened to Dietrich’s story, and sat with him until the clock struck twelve. When the last bell sounded, just as Dietrich was breathing a huge sigh of relief, he heard a pounding on his door. He opened it to find one of his servants. “Master! Master Reinhold! Hans has just died!” And suddenly Dietrich Reinhold understood that Hans, the servant who was known throughout the region as one who loved the Lord, was the richest man in the village. Dear friend, in one hourand the hour could be very soonyour entire empire, however big or small it might be, could burn. That is why Jesus said we are fools if we’re rich on earth but paupers in heaven. One hundred years ago, a sailor shipwrecked in the South Seas found himself washed to the shore of a small island. The natives took one look at his white skin and made him their god. “This is my lucky day!” thought the sailor. But after six months of being treated like a king and learning the customs of the people, he was shocked to discover that each god served for one year, only to be sacrificed at the end of the year to the next god. So seeing a bigger picture than living the life of luxury for the next six months, what did this guy do? He set his subjects to work on building a boat. When it was completed five and a half months later, he got on it and sailed away. What would happen if we said, “Since Babylon is all going to burn, why don’t I do something radical and spend the six months I have left to prepare for eternity? I’ll use whatever I have on this earth for God’s glory by giving it away or sharing it with others”? If that were truly our mind-set, we’d gladly lend our little brother our new CD player or our friend our new car. You see, the problem doesn’t lie with material possessions. The problem only arises when we grasp them too tightly or when they keep us from fellowshiping with our Lord or loving our neighbor. This is a hard message to give to young people because they think they can wait to get radical until they’re older. But if you’re in your fifties, like me, or older, you know that wrinkles and gray hair are constant reminders that life is short. But all too often what do we do? We buy hair dye and cactus root extract from Arizona that promises to give us an extra ten minutes of life. And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.Luk_12:22-23 Don’t make styles or health food your focus to the point that when people see you coming, they know you’re going to try to get them caught up in the latest fad. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.Luk_12:24-31 “Consider the ravens…” This passage doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything because God will take care of you. Even the birds know better than that. No, they do what they can to provide for themselves, but they don’t develop ulcers in the process. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luk_12:32 What is the kingdom? Paul defines it not as meat or drink, but as righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom_14:17). Righteousness, peace, and joythese are what God promises us if we seek first the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Luk_12:33-34 How do we disentangle our hearts from the things of Babylon and focus on the things of heaven? By putting our treasure there, by giving stuff away, by helping people out, by doing whatever we can to be as generous as we can possibly be. We set our hearts on heaven not by building bigger barns, but by becoming bigger people in light of eternity. As opposed to the current health and wealth teaching that propounds that godliness with great gain makes for contentment, Paul wrote to Timothy, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.1Ti_6:6-9 A Confederate spy during the Civil War, Rose O’Neal Greenhow received two thousand dollars in gold as payment for her memoirs and boarded a ship home with the gold sewn into the hem of her dress and petticoats. Sailing on the blockade-runner Condor, she reached the mouth of the Cape Fear River just outside Wilmington, North Carolina, when a Union ship gave chase, forcing the Condor aground. Rose, fearing capture and reimprisonment, persuaded the captain to send her and two companions ashore in a lifeboat; but in stormy seas, the small vessel overturned. The ship sank, and so did Rosie. Paul’s rightgold can drown men. So what’s the solution? The one Paul gave to Timothy… Charge them that are rich in this world…1Ti_6:17 (a) I believe this verse applies to every single one of us in some respect. Why? Because having a roof over our heads, food on the table, and even a single car in our garage makes us rich, indeed, compared to the rest of the world. …that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.1Ti_6:17 (b) Don’t trust in your money; don’t live for it, but rather trust God who gives us all things to enjoy and live for Him. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.1Ti_6:18 The word translated “communicate” literally means “be sociable.” In other words, open up your home, heart, and possessions. Give them away; let them go; be as generous as you can possibly be with everyone the Lord sends your way on any given day. The key to enjoying that which God has given us is employing it for His glory. I join Paul in promising you that when you get to heaven, whatever you did on earth in response to God guiding you tosupport a ministry, give to a homeless person on the street, or share a meal with someone in needwill not cause you to say, “Phooey. I could have built a bigger barn. Why did I give so much away?” You’ll never say that! Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.1Ti_6:19 Gang, even if the Rapture doesn’t happen in our lifetime (which I am convinced it will), the riches you have generously dispensed on earth in obedience to the Spirit will make you rich in heaven because you’ve been obedient to the Spirit of God. Lay up for yourselves a good foundation. How? By letting go; by sharing with people; and by obeying the Lord. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.Rev_19:7

Revelation 18:21

The entire life of the city comes to a complete, abrupt halt in the aftermath of what is most likely a nuclear exchange. To John, the destruction in a single hour of the economic capital of the world would have been unimaginable. To our culture, having seen even the infancy of nuclear warfare demonstrated at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this is completely possible. Who, where, what is this city of Babylon? The first clue is that her merchants were the great, or wealthiest, men on earth. Our government’s historic and continued support and subsidy of the tobacco industry is an example of the “get rich at all costs” mentality that will do anything for a dollareven if it means hiring Joe Camel to sell cigarettes to our own children. The word translated “sorceries” being pharmakeia, or “drugs,” the second clue concerning Babylon’s identity is that this city has caught the entire world in her web of drug traffic. The evidence is conclusive that due to the availability of money and to the demand of a culture that sinks so low as to glorify heroin addiction on its fashion models, the country that drives the drug industry today is unquestionably the United States.

Revelation 18:24

The third clue concerning Babylon’s identity is that: The blood of the saints is on Babylon’s head. Since 1900, an average of 250,000 born-again believers have been martyred every year. This issue is presently before our own Congress as the Christian community is saying the U.S. must take a standparticularly as it relates to the nation of China, where the highest percentage of this type of persecution has taken place. But our country refuses to do this, instead granting China Most Favored Nation status in order that her 2.5 billion people can buy our cars and computers. Am I suggesting the Babylon of Revelation 18 is actually America? There are those who think so. Turn to the Book of Isaiah, written by another prophet who foretold the destruction of Babylon (Rev_21:9)… Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.Isa_18:1 “Beyond the rivers of Ethiopia is a term to describe an unknown regioncertainly what America would have been to Isaiah. In addition, some suggest the “shadowing with wings” reference is to the eagle, our country’s insignia. That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters…Isa_18:2 (a) Isaiah’s point of reference being the Middle East, her ambassadors could only have reached America by crossing the sea. …saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto…Isa_18:2 (b) The original Hebrew meaning of this passage is: “Go ye swift messengers to a nation, wide and polished, to a people awesome from their beginning.” …a nation meted out and trodden down…Isa_18:2 (c) Some suggest this is a precise description of our own history in light of our “manifest destiny” to claim our land from coast to coast, from “sea to shining sea,” regardless of the indigenous people groups in the way. …whose land the rivers have spoiled!Isa_18:2 (d) Some suggest this refers to the pollution of our rivers. In his description of Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah writes of “the mingled people” in the midst of a land “that dwellest upon many waters” (see Jer_50:37; Jer_51:13). Inhabited by a mono-ethnic people and situated on only the Euphrates River, Jeremiah’s reference does not describe historic Babylon. America, on the other hand, is a melting pot of people and surrounded by oceans and riversnot to mention the Great Lakes that alone contain one-quarter of the world’s fresh water. Add to this the fact that Babylon will “mount up to heaven, and fortify the height of her strength” (see Jer_51:53) in a seeming reference to a space program, the case made by those who believe the Babylon of Revelation 18 is actually AmericaNew York City, in particularis a strong one. Do I agree with this? I don’t know. You see, it could very well be that present-day Babylon will become the center of world commerce during the Tribulation. Once surrounded by walls wide enough that six chariots could race atop them and containing hanging gardens so magnificent that they were one of the seven wonders of the world, after its destruction in 330 B.C. by Alexander the Great, Babylon was a rather unimportant place for many centuriesuntil Saddam Hussein came to power. Fifteen years ago, he commissioned a team of brilliant Japanese architects to mastermind the rebuilding of the once-awesome city. Today, the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, the gate of Ishtar, and the royal paveway are complete. The wall is near completion. Why is Hussein investing hundreds of millions of dollars on this building project? Partly as a nod to the past, an homage to his hero, Nebuchadnezzarthe last king of Babylon able to control Israel; partly as an understanding of the present, as a way to compete for the much-needed tourist dollar; and partly as a hope for the futurethe first part of a plan to establish Babylon as the center of the Arab world. So it could well be that after Rome is devoured in the Tribulation (Rev_17:14), Antichrist will choose to move his base of operation to Babylon in Iraq. Interestingly, in the first Gulf War, due to its archaeological, historical, and cultural significance, orders were issued by the Gulf War Coalition that under no circumstances was Babylon to be touched. Thus, the possibility certainly exists that Babylon was preserved not only for her archaeological, historical, and cultural significancebut, unknowingly, for her prophetic significance. Whether the Babylon of Revelation 18 is actually present-day Babylon or present-day America, the fact remains that although a revived Roman Empire, a restored Russia, a Chinese-Asian coalition, and Israel are all clearly seen in the end timesAmerica is strangely absent. While this could be due to the fact that she truly is devastated in the nuclear exchange described in Revelation 18, it could also be due to the fact that the percentage of Christians in our nationbe they strong or weak or vacillatingis so high that America is disabled as a result of the void they leave after the Rapture. You see, if I were to go to Hawaii tomorrow, my whole body would goeven if my arm was broken, my back was sore, my knee was bruised. The same is true of the Rapture. The entire body of Christ will gocomprised of any who simply believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose again, of all who embrace His gift of salvation. While we will have to wait for a definitive answer to the question of Babylon’s identity in the last days, however, our brother James has a particular word for us this day… Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.Jas_5:1-3 In other words, our garages full of stuff we can’t get rid of because we’re sure that someday we’ll actually use that electric toothbrush and our closets full of clothes we can’t give away because we’re also sure that someday we’ll lose those twenty pounds and wear them again, witness against us. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.Jas_5:4 The cries from the people you’ve cheated by cutting corners, from the employees you’re tricked, from the system you’ve “beat” all enter the ears of the Lord. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.Jas_5:5-6 In taking care of your own business and pleasure, you’ve forgotten everyone else. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.Jas_5:7-9 Don’t cheat one another. Instead, be as generous as you can, realizing the nearness of the Lord’s return. Truly, James is “another voice from heaven, saying, Come out from Babylon, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (see Rev_18:4). It’s a convicting word for meone I need to hear, one I need to heed.